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March Madness: Throwing a Mad Men Party?

It’s just 45 days until the new season premier of Mad Men, but who’s counting? (Jeepers, it’s leap year or it would be 44!) From Boston to New Orleans to San Francisco Mad Men-themed parties are in the works. We’ve already been to a few, but as March Mad Men Madness intensifies we’ll be sipping Mai Tais at many more. That’s what happens when you write a book called The Unofficial Mad Men Cookbook.

If you’re planning a Mad Men party, or to attend one, we want to hear about it! How can you share what’s happening in your neck of the woods, whether it’s Ossining, New York City or Palm Springs? First, tell us about your party! We’ve created a “Party Like A Mad Man” listing for events coast to coast: a virtual, rolling, transcontinental Mad Men party where fans share their experience. Tell us where the party is taking place, what’s being served, what are people wearing, and what other 1960s accents that are planned from the music to the decor (if your party is private, you can still share the details, but not the location!) Contact us by email, Facebook, Twitter, or comment on this post!

If you need some ideas for your Mad Men party we can highly recommendThe Unofficial Mad Men Cookbook, of course. In addition to more 70 authentic Mad Men era recipes, there’s a bevy of party planning tips, too. (You can also find these tips here.) But just to get you started we’ve put together two sample menus depending on whether you’re planning something casual, or have an important guest, like Conrad Hilton, to impress.

Planning a Mad Men Dinner Party

COCKTAIL HOUR

For those who prefer a bracing Mad Men cocktail we recommend Don and Roger’s favorites: the Old Fashioned cocktail and the Martini. For drinkers with a sweet tooth we suggest the Royal Hawaiian or Mai Tai. If you’re having a large crowd, a self-serve punch, such as Canadian Clubhouse Punch or the Stork Club Cocktail punch, can make your life easier. And, always, as Betty Crocker suggests, have a non-alcoholic alternative.